You’ve Reached Sam is a poignant debut that falls somewhere between paranormal contemporary and magical realism. Dustin Thao delves into the difficult emotions surrounding the loss of a loved one, and the question—what if you could speak to them one…
‘Sway With Me’ review: Syed Masood weaves complex family relationships into a contemporary coming-of-age tale
Syed M. Masood, author of More Than Just A Pretty Face and The Bad Muslim Discount, returns with his third young adult novel, Sway With Me. Masood combines elements of self-discovery and the struggles of navigating relationships—set to the backdrop…
‘It All Comes Back to You’ review: Farah Naz Rishi’s newest novel combines humor and heartache while exploring grief
After her science fiction debut novel I Hope You Get This Message, Farah Naz Rishi switches genres in her sophomore novel, It All Comes Back to You. While It All Comes Back to You is a contemporary young adult romance,…
‘How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe’ review: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s sophomore novel captures the aftermath of abuse and religious trauma
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s sophomore novel, ‘How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe,’ is an emotional rollercoaster of a book.
‘Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance’ review: Nisha Sharma explores joy, regret, and coming-of-age in her latest YA rom-com
The newest contemporary novel from Nisha Sharma balances the lightheartedness of the rom-com genre with the seriousness of topics like anxiety and complex family relationships. Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance is a beautifully written book with such heart that…
‘XOXO’ review: Axie Oh’s lighthearted musical romance is the perfect summer read
Axie Oh’s heartwarming novel XOXO brings readers along on an emotional journey of friendship, young love, and complicated family relationships. Set in both South Korea and the United States, a cello prodigy and a K-Pop idol attempt to pursue their…
‘A Phở Love Story’ review: Loan Le crafts a romance between two teens whose families own rivaling phở restaurants
Loan Le’s debut novel A Phở Love Story is an #ownvoices romantic comedy about two Vietnamese-American teens whose parents own competing phở restaurants. A book about identity and family at its heart, Le’s vibrant and three dimensional characters bring the…